An Alien Encounter or Friendly Mowing Device?

4/12/24 – You may notice a little something quietly buzzing about during your round.

The Wilmette Park District is testing autonomous mowers on the golf course. Should they prove successful, these GPS-controlled, battery-powered mowers have the potential to revolutionize our turf maintenance practices and honor our commitment to sustainable solutions.

We’re currently testing five mowers, focusing on mowing the driving range, fairways, and adjacent rough for select holes. Operating during the day allows us to evaluate consistency and human interaction.

The demonstration period will extend through May, with a decision on full or partial adoption expected this year or potentially postponed until next year, depending on budgetary considerations.